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To help you measure your laptop’s screen size, we put together this complete guide providing 2 quick and easy step-by-step methods.
Finding out your laptop’s screen dimensions is pretty easy once you know exactly how to do it.
In this guide, we will show you in detail how laptop screens are measured. We’ll also provide some additional info on laptop screen dimensions, and things to consider when choosing your laptop’s screen size.
Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
How Big Is My Laptop Screen?
You can easily find out the screen size by following these 2 methods below.
1. Measure Screen Size With a Measuring Tape
The most important thing to know is that all laptop displays are measured diagonally. And obviously, the display sizes you see on the specs are measured diagonally and not horizontally from left to right.
Laptop screens are measured in inches. So, even if you measure your laptop in any other unit, you will need to convert it into inches first.
Note
Do not consider a Chromebook if your college major or courses require specialized software made only for Windows or macOS.
Check out this video for more information:
2. Find Laptop Screen Size by Searching Online
You can also search for your laptop’s specifications on the web.
One of the quickest and easiest ways to find out how big your laptop’s screen is to simply do a search using the model number and the phrase “screen size”, like the following image. Let’s take the Dell Latitude E7450 as an example.
Are There Any Standard Laptop Screen Sizes?
Even though there is no universal standard for the physical configuration or the display size of your laptop, some models are more similar than others.
Most laptops’ screen displays are between 13 inches to 15 inches. On the low end, compact laptops’ display size ranges between 11 inches to 13 inches. And large laptops go up to 17.3 inches.
Just because two laptops have similar diagonal measurements, doesn’t always mean they will have similar horizontal and vertical measurements.
How to Choose the Best Laptop Screen Size
The most important step is to be clear on what you will use your laptop for and how often you will take it with you.
If you travel with your laptop on a daily basis and don’t use it for photo or video editing or something where you absolutely need a large screen then an 11-15 inch laptop is the most ideal.
If you need a larger screen, consider getting a secondary monitor for your home office or office. That’s how I roll and I like it. This way I have the portability of a smaller laptop while enjoying the larger external screens.
If you don’t need to haul your laptop with you everywhere and need the larger screen, you’ll love the 15-17 inch range. Or as I mentioned, consider getting one or two external monitors, especially for your home office, office, dorm room, etc. The best of both worlds.
One thing to keep in mind though is the larger the screen the higher the price.
When to Opt for a Larger Screen?
A larger display size is suitable for gaming because it offers a wide viewing angle. As it is bigger, you can perceive everything comfortably from a distance. Not only this, but it also provides increased productivity and improvement in user experience.
Although a larger screen boosts work and hobbies, it comes at the cost of portability. That’s because these laptops have a dimension of larger display and keyboard. As a result, it increases the overall weight of the laptop as well.
So, if you don’t care about the weight and the portability factor, and the extra inches make a difference to you, then the larger screen is a good option.
When to Opt for a Smaller Screen?
Laptops with smaller screens are lighter and more compact in general. Some of the small display laptops can still offer an excellent resolution.
Although the viewing angle is not great, you will get a device with a trim physical profile and much lighter in weight compared to a large screen display.
One thing to keep in mind is that a smaller screen comes with a smaller keyboard. Make sure to keep that in mind if you need space when typing out your next masterpiece.
Apart from being light in weight, laptops with small screens consume less power as well.
Thus, if you are looking for a laptop that you can take anywhere easily, such as in an airplane or a crowded shop, small sizes are great.
Things to Consider When Choosing Your Laptop Screen Size
Even though every situation and scenario is unique, there are 5 basic things to consider when choosing your laptop screen size. In addition, you want to take into consideration other aspects such as the overall size and cost. Let’s check out these factors below.
Usage
The most important step is to be clear on what you will use the laptop for most often and how big of a screen and thus laptop you need for that. As mentioned above you can also consider getting an external monitor if possible to compensate for a smaller laptop screen.
Portability
If you are looking for a laptop that works as a portable desktop PC and you only want to take it with you occasionally, a larger screen will boost your experience and prove to be less challenging.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a portable device to carry around for travel, school, or work, the smaller screen and keyboard become more practical.
Multimedia Requirements
Are you looking for a laptop to play media? Then a larger screen can be a great choice.
It does not only offer better detail and excellent viewing angles, but you will also get the most out of your video games, watching movies, and live streaming which is an extremely crucial consideration for some users.
Workspace
The size of your workspace can also help you decide on a suitable screen size. While some users work on one or more external monitors, others have a more flexible routine and only use their laptops’ screens.
That’s why it’s a good idea to think of your primary workspace before deciding on the screen size you want.
Large-screen laptops are generally too bulky for a narrow space, like a dorm room or a cubicle. As a result, this will negate the majority of its substantial benefits. But, if it is the only screen in your workplace, you might be able to get away with a larger panel.
Current Laptop Screen Size
You can focus on the display size that solves the shortcomings you are facing with your current laptop. For this, you should be familiar with the size of your current laptop to avoid confusion.
How to Measure Your Laptop
Do you need to measure your laptop for buying a laptop bag? Measuring the laptop screen dimensions is not enough for this purpose.
You need to measure its width, depth, and height as well. Here’s how:
Measure the Width
- Start measuring from the right corner or the front left.
- Measure from the front to the other front corner of the laptop.
- Don’t forget to include the round edges, if any.
- If you have measured the width in centimeters, convert it into inches.
Measure the Depth
- Start from the right corner or at the back left.
- Take the measuring tape straight down to the side of the front corner of the laptop.
- Make sure you include the round edges as well.
- Convert the depth into inches if necessary.
Measure the Height
- Close your laptop screen as the height is always measured when the screen is closed.
- Start measuring from any one of the bottom sides.
- Take the measuring tape to the top of the closed screen.
- Your laptop will not be taller than 2 inches.
- Convert the measurement into inches.
After having the accurate dimensions of your laptop, you can start looking for a suitable bag. Check out our comprehensive guide on How to Measure Laptop Size for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions About Laptop Screen Size
Before we conclude, there are some questions that the users have been asking for a while now on how to measure laptop screen size. Let’s check them out below.
Are laptops measured diagonally?
Almost all the laptops’ screen sizes are measured by the diagonal. Even the display size you see in the specs is measured diagonally and not horizontally from left to right.
Is 11-inch too small for a laptop?
The optimal laptop size depends on the usage. For example, if you are in a situation where the compact size and lightweight matter more than the notebook’s power, an 11-inch laptop can work wonders. But, in some cases, you will have to give up on storage, processing power, and – obviously – screen real estate.
Conclusion
You can easily find out your laptop’s screen size using a few different methods we discussed in this guide. While the most common method is to use a measuring tape and measure it diagonally, you can search your model specifications online as well. But for this, you first need to find out the model number of your laptop.
Another important thing worth noting is that there is no standard screen size, and your requirements and the use of the laptop will dictate the best screen size.
If you are looking for a great gaming experience or better productivity, a larger screen size will work better, but a smaller screen would be the ideal choice if you want a lighter laptop with a great battery life that’s easy to carry.
Let us know in the comments below if this guide helped you measure your laptop screen size effectively. And feel free to ask any questions you may have.
If you want to learn how to clean the screen efficiently you can check our article about it.
